Fort Fairfield trio charged in convenience store burglary

PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Three Fort Fairfield residents were arrested early Monday morning in connection with a burglary at Ray’s Corner Variety, at the corner of Academy and Dudley streets, police said.

Police did not have to search far for the suspects because they crashed their getaway car within one-tenth of a mile of the crime scene, Presque Isle police Sgt. Laurie Kelly said Monday night.

Arrested were Lili Parady, 19, Dustin Murphy-Moran, 18, and Shane Graves, 19. All three were taken to Aroostook County Jail. As of late Monday, only Parady had been released on bail, set at $2,000 cash or $15,000 surety. Her alleged accomplices were not expected to be released until at least Wednesday, because of Monday’s state holiday and today’s state shutdown day, Kelly said.

Kelly said all three suspects were charged with felony burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Parady also was charged with driving without a license, operating under the influence of intoxicants and leaving the scene of a motor vehicle crash.

In addition, Parady and Murphy-Moran were charged with hindering apprehension, and Murphy-Moran and Graves with illegal possession of alcohol, Kelly said.

According to a press release issued by Presque Isle police, the break-in occurred about 1:50 a.m., when Presque Isle police received a burglary alarm from the corner store, Kelly said.

When two officers arrived, they found a broken window along with evidence strewn from the scene to surrounding areas. One of the officers also found the suspects’ vehicle crashed nearby.

A Police Department tracking dog and handler were brought to the area and traced scents from the burglary scene to the accident scene, on nearby Barton Street.

According to Kelly, police recovered at least $1,000 worth of goods from the store, including cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and scratch tickets.